UK Quarterbacks Will Split Time

Posted: Mon 6:42 PM, Sep 08, 2008&nbsp|&nbsp

Updated: Mon 6:43 PM, Sep 08, 2008

Rich Brooks has tried alternatingquarterbacks enough during his long coaching career to know that itnever works. Well, almost never. The Kentucky coach has been so encouraged by the play of MikeHartline and Randall Cobb that he's going to continue playing bothof them even though his previous experiments with multiplequarterbacks has often blown up in his face. "What went wrong (before) was neither of the quarterbacks wereas good as the two quarterbacks I have, and the teams that I did itwith weren't as good as this team," Brooks said. "So I'm hopefulthis time it will work." It worked well enough during last week's romp over Norfolk Statethat Brooks has no plans to make drastic changes on Saturday whenthe Wildcats (2-0) host Middle Tennessee (1-1). "I can see us going through an extended period of time withboth quarterbacks," he said. "Both bring a little bit differentthings to the table and put different strains on the defense." Cobb sparkled with both his arms and his legs against theSpartans, running for 49 yards and two touchdowns and completing6-of-11 passes for 87 yards and a score. "Randall, after looking at it, did a lot of marvelous things,"Brooks said. "But he also did some bad things." Namely throwing an interception and fumbling the ball deep inKentucky territory, a miscue that led to Norfolk State's onlypoints. Still, for a true freshman playing in just the second game ofhis career, Cobb's teammates have been as impressed by his poise ashis athletic ability. When Cobb entered the huddle in place ofHartline late in the first quarter, he hardly looked like a guy whoentered training camp slotted to compete for a starting job at widereceiver, not quarterback. "He was ready to go to town," said right tackle JustinJeffries. "He made the impression upon me that he wasn't reallynervous. He obviously made a couple of rookie mistakes, but he's arookie. I think he did a pretty good job." Cobb wowed the Commonwealth Stadium crowd, so much so that therewere a smattering of boos when Hartline came back in to start thesecond half. Brooks chastised the fans for their behavior, and tooksome of the blame for Hartline's relatively modest success.Hartline completed 9-of-15 passes for 60 yards on Saturday, anddoesn't have a pass longer than 20 yards through two games. "We went into the first game with him and we were so intent onnot screwing it up that we might have coached a little bit too muchcaution into him," Brooks said. "We've got to allow him a littlemore freedom." A little assistance from the receiving corps wouldn't hurteither. Kentucky wideouts made several mistakes against NorfolkState, running the wrong routes at times and dropping catchableballs at others. Hartline hit E.J. Adams in stride on a bomb, onlyto have Adams drop it. "That might have ended up being a TD," Brooks said. "It wasan excellent throw and plop ... on the ground. We're not used toseeing that around here." Brooks said he'd like to see a receiver or three step up andprovide some continuity. Doing that would make the job easier forthe quarterback no matter who is under center. "If we can get the ball movement and move the chains and scoresome points, Mike will feel better, everybody will feel better,"Brooks said. "Then we can move forward and have our twoquarterback system with some general acceptance of the plan." Cobb and Hartline's teammates say they're comfortable witheither one at quarterback, and the way Kentucky's defense isplaying right now the quarterback need only to make sure he doesn'tfind a way to lose games. Opponents have managed just five points in eight quartersagainst Kentucky this year, the first time since 1958 the Wildcatshaven't allowed a touchdown in the season's first two games. The test will get much stiffer on Saturday. Middle Tennessee iscoming off a convincing 24-14 win over Maryland, and its spreadoffense can cause fits for opponents. Just ask Louisville, whichallowed the Blue Raiders to roll up 555 total yards last season. "They do a lot of things that Florida does," said defensiveend Jeremy Jarmon. "You've just got to play assignment footballand not worry about where the ball is. Just do your job."

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